WELLINGTON, 15 June, 2021 (TON): New Zealand’s first meeting on tackling terrorism and violent extremism has been opened by the country’s PM Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday.

The meeting will be held in Christchurch over the next two days.

The media quoted the PM as saying, the meeting of "a country at peace" will look at "how we can all contribute to making our country more inclusive and safe."

This inaugural hui (meeting) brings together community, civil society, academia, the private sector and government to listen, share and learn - both knowledge and experiences," the PM added.

The meeting will promote public conversation, understanding and radical research, will look at the extremist ideologies ways to cater extremism, thus will be held annually.

However, considering New Zealand’s one of the most devastating terrorist attacks on 15 March, 2019, involving around 51 casualties; prompted the country to reform its gun laws.  

OTTAWA, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, Canada's Vice-Chief of Defense Staff Lt. Gen. Mike Rouleau announced his resignation.

His resignation appeared following him golfed with former Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance, allegedly accused of sexual misconduct.

Rouleau said in a statement, "As a result of this incident, I am stepping aside immediately as [vice-chief of the defense staff] and will transition to the CAF Transition Group. Major-General Frawley will serve as [acting vice-chief of the defense staff] until Lieutenant-General Allen assumes command. I am acutely aware of the tumultuous times we are navigating together."

On 2 June, Rouleau reportedly played golf with Vance at the Hylands Golf and Country Club in Ottawa, along with Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy Vice-Admiral Craig Baines.

"I understand how such an activity could lead some to perceive a potential conflict of interest and controversy, given the current context, but nothing can be further from the truth," Rouleau said.

According to him, he invited Vance to play golf "to ensure his wellness."

However, he insisted that he and Vance did not discuss anything related to ongoing investigations during their outing.

TRIPOLI, 15 June, 2021 (TON): According to the stats of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 2,000 illegal migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to Libya in the past week.

The organization released the statement on Monday.

IOM said, “In the period of June 6-12, 2,083 migrants were rescued or intercepted at sea and returned to Libya."

IOM stated that a total of 12,794 illegal migrants, both women and children included, have been rescued, while 190 died and 487 went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route in 2021 so far.

However, since the fall of the late leader Gaddafi, Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos.

As a consequence, this region has had begun a point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

ADDIS ABABA, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) affirmed more than 45,000 local poll observers have received the badges.

The spokeswoman of NEBE, Solyana Shimelis told the media that more than 167 local civic organizations have been given recognition by the board to conduct voters training programs.

She said, “NEBE has also prepared 44,372 polling stations which are expected to be used to cast votes."

However, according to the NEBE, more than 8,200 candidates have registered for the upcoming sixth national general elections scheduled for 21 June.

CAIRO, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry arrived in Doha to convey a message from the President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The message incorporates the positive developments in Egyptian-Qatari relations following the signing of the “Al-Ula reconciliation agreement” on 5 January.

It also expressed Egypt’s aspiration to take further measures to advance the priority areas of bilateral cooperation in achieving the interests of the two countries and the people.

According to the Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez’s statement, Shoukry will take part in the consultative meeting of the Arab foreign ministers held at Qatar’s invitation.

 The aim of the meeting is to continue coordination and consultation on present situation of the region, ways to tackle the growing challenges faced by the countries in Arab.

AL-MAHRA, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) officially opened the Operations and Intensive Care Center in Al-Mahra governorate in Yemen.

At the opening ceremony, Yemeni Health Minister Dr. Qassem Buhaibah extended gratitude towards Saudi Arabia for supporting Yemen through different initiatives.

He said, “We in the health sector consider the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the first supporter of this sector.”

However, this health facility provides healthcare needs of the governorate’s population and it is equipped with all facilities to attend to emergency cases and treat people with chronic diseases.

Besides, majorly, agriculture and fisheries, health, water, education, energy, transportation, and government and public sector infrastructure are the focus of SDRPY.

CAPE TOWN, 15 June, 2021 (TON): The President of South Africa appreciates and acknowledges the nations’ promise at Sunday’s G7 meeting to donate jabs to the countries in less favorable conditions.   

He said, "We brought a message here that we would like to have access to the vaccines as well, so that the people of Africa, from whom only 2% have now been vaccinated as opposed to much higher percentages in the North, should also be vaccinated.

"We also raised the issue of giving capacity and capability to countries in the developing economies so that they too should be able to produce their own vaccines, so that it should continue to be the preserve of G7 countries."

The leader also questioned on why only one African nation was invited to attend the summit, besides, nevertheless, praised the stance of the nations on the distribution of the vaccinations.

Moreover, it may now be at two billion vaccines but still, the overall total pledge falls short by the 9 billion more than health organizations state will be necessary to vaccinate the world's population.

RAMALLAH, 15 June, 2021 (TON): The Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye urged the new Israeli government to start putting an end to the occupation and recognize the Palestinian people's legitimate rights.

On Monday, while at a meeting of the cabinet, the PM said, "What is needed from the new Israeli government is to start acting on ending the occupation and settlement in Palestine."

He added that the new Israeli government headed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will have no future if it doesn't recognize the Palestinians' future.

Meanwhile, Ishtaye warned the "serious consequences that would be resulted from the Israeli occupation's authorities to allow the right-wing extremists to participate in the flag march in Jerusalem on Tuesday".

"Organising the flag march in East Jerusalem is a provocation to the Palestinian people and aggression on the city and our holy places," he said, adding that "the international community has to intervene to stop it".

The mounted conflict over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip had beem [ut to an end after the Egypt brokered a ceasefire on 21 May.

AMMAN, 15 June, 2021 (TON): Preparations for the international conference have been discussed by the Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and a top official from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The conference was organized by the Kingdom and Sweden to rally financial and political support for organization.

On Monday, during the meeting, Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister, and Commissioner-General of the UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini stressed the importance of the conference, expected to be held by the end of 2022, the media reported.

The aim of the conference was to adopt effective strategies and plans ensuring the UNRWA's continuous role in providing vital services of health, education and relief to Palestinian refugees, a statement by the Foreign Ministry read.

They also highlighted the urgency of the process of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip and meeting its needs.

However, Lazzarini appreciated Jordan's efforts to rally international support for the UNRWA, emphasizing the role the Kingdom and its cooperation with the international community in funding.

NAIROBI, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the Nairobi authorities announced to reopen Kenyan embassy in Somalia as soon as possible.

Last weekend, the Foreign Minister of Somalia sent a letter to his Kenyan counterpart inviting him to reopen Kenyan diplomatic representation in Mogadishu that was closed since December after Somalia broke off diplomatic relations between the two states.

On Monday, in a letter published on its Twitter account, the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced "that the Government of the Republic of Kenya acknowledges and welcomes the invitation of the Federal Government of Somalia to restore diplomatic relations between Somalia and Kenya.”

“The Kenyan government will proceed to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu as soon as possible and invites the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to return to Nairobi and resume his duties," it added.

However, the breakdown in diplomatic relations in December 2020 came as Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta received in Nairobi the president of the self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland, which is not recognized by the international community and which Mogadishu considers an integral part of Somalia.